Some drivers working with Taxi-hailing company, Uber, staged a peaceful protest on Monday, February 10, 2020, marching down to the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) office in Lagos State over the recent clampdown on them.

Officials of the VIS, popularly called Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) had earlier commenced a clampdown on Uber drivers who did not have certification from the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute (LASDRI) and hackney permit. The VIS also insists that the company must pay a fee to the state government to obtain a license for operation. According to VIS authorities, the law is not a new one. It has been in existence but is only being enforced now.

An Uber driver, Adegoke Faloye, who spoke to The Guardian blamed Uber for the clampdown over what he described as "their noncompliance to regulations enacted by the government." He further disclosed that several complaints made to Uber were not acknowledged until recently when the company released a memo, asking all drivers to be calm as the organization was on top of the situation. However, the drivers were still being harassed by VIOs.

“Uber and Taxify need[ed] to do the right thing to the government since 2016. The government had written to them and decided to stop them since they did not comply.

“There was a circular that was sent via the app that they were aware of the crisis. They said they have an agreement with VIO office not to disturb us.”

Culled from https://naijauto.com/market-news/uber-drivers-protest-vio-clampdown-6079

E don reach their side.